A pioneering marine biologist takes us down into the deep ocean to understand bioluminescence—the language of light that helps life communicate in the darkness—and what it tells us about the future of life on Earth.
... enthralling ... The science throughout the book is fascinating as Widder repeatedly revolutionizes her field, but there is much more than science here. Widder is also an explorer, an inventor and a captivating storyteller whose life has been uncommonly adventurous, both on land and at sea ... Widder offers a forceful critique of our current mismanagement of the oceans.
Widder’s passion is so contagious that by the end of the book, I was yearning to explore these deep, dark waters with her. (Dr. Widder, I’m available!) The wonders she has witnessed are completely compelling ... Her enthusiasm is matched by her sense of humor, which is frequently on full display in footnotes ... With Widder as their guide, readers of Below the Edge of Darkness will become staunch champions of the spectacular bioluminescent world that thrives in the ocean’s depths. It’s a display they’ll long to see, and an education they’ll never forget.
... stylish, eloquent ... The deep is our planet’s last wild place and we despoil it at our peril. To [her] credit, Widder and [has] made abundantly, yet entertainingly clear the nature of the dangers that lie ahead.
